Tilting bucket bottle loader



June 16, 1953 J, cu v 2,642,212

TILTING BUCKET sown; LOADER Filed April '7; 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet l Iragwuwvbom John E Qurri van J. F. CURRIVAN TILTING BUCKET BOTTLE LOADER'June 16, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7, 1948 lllllllrllll J 0/20Curr/van r /M Md j n 1953 J. F. CURRIVAN 2,642,212

TILTING BUCKET BOTTLE LOADER Filed April 7, 1948 7 sheets -sheet 4 JohnE Curr/van X/MQW June 16, 1953 J, QURRNAN 2,642,212

' TIL-TING BUCKET BOTTLE LOADER Filed April '7, 1948 7 Sheets-Sheet 5John F Curr/van June 16, 1953 J. F. CURRIVAN 2,

' TIL-TING BUCKET BOTTLE LOADER 'Fig.6

(III:

John E Carri van Patented June 16, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETILTING BUCKET BOTTLE LOADER John Francis Currivan, Dayton, Ohio,assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Emhart Manufacturing Company,-a corporation ofDelaware Application April 7, 1948, Serial No. 19,625

This invention relates to devices for automatically transferring orloading containers such as bottles or the like from one conveyor toanother and inpartic'ular for loading a conveyor having tilting bucketswhich move from their normal horizontal to an upright position 'whilebeing loaded.

While the device has other adaptations, it is particularly suited foruse in connection with a cartoning machine of the general type shown anddescribed in the application of Alexander H. Ross, Serial Number731,395, filed February 27, 1947, for Cartoning Machine. In this machinean endless conveyor is provided with buckets which carry bottles or thelike in a horizontalposition and extending transversely of-the directionof conveyor movement, there being means to shift the bucketstransversely and to eject the bottles from them and insert them intocartons that are traveling in a parallel path.

Before the bottles are placed into the afore said buckets for insertioninto the cartons they have been filled, capped, and have labelsattached. It is desirable that the cartoning machine be arranged'adjacentthe machine performing the last operation, so that the bottlescan be transferred to it without any intermediate handling. In manyinstances it is necessary that the bottles be placed in the buckets ofthe cartoning machine bucket conveyor in a particular manner sdthat theywill be correctly presented for insertion into the carton. This will betrue particularly of rectangular bottles which must have their widestdimension aligned with the corresponding dimension of the cartonsbeforethey can be inserted. Y

It is also frequently desirable for merchandising purposes that thelabels on the bottles have'some particular position with respect to-thehinged portion of the'flaps on the end of the carton.

The machines which fill andcap 'the bottles normally discharge themstill in an upright position, and they must therefore be turned'overonto their side in order to lie properly in the cartoning machinebuckets. 'If the bottles are presented to the cartoning machine withtheir widest portions abutting they must be rotated about a verticalaxis before being 't'urne'dover onto their sides.

In accordance with my inventiojnl have modified the structure of thebuckets on the cartoning machine so that they can be tilted up to a nearvertical position to receive the bottles, after which theyreturn totheir normal horizontal position for inserting the b ttlesintQ the,cartons, The normal operationpf the buckets .and'thecon- 24 Claims.(01.226-2) tinuous movement of the conveyor of which they form a part,is not interfered with in any manner. Also in accordance with myinvention I have 7 provided a conveyor which will convey upright bottlesfrom the filling or capping machine or the like, and will present themin proper position to the buckets for transfer thereto, rotating themabout a vertical axis where required, and transferring them to thebuckets with such smoothness of movement that there is no danger ofbreakage.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a noveldevice for handling and transferring upright bottles from a filling orcapping machine or the like onto the bucket conveyor of a cartoningmachine, turning the bottles from their upright position to a horizontalposition, all in one smooth continuousmovement so that the cartoningmachine can be kept continuously in operation and without affecting itscarton erecting and loading operations.

' 'It is another important object of my invention to provide a-novelbucket conveyor which will normally carry bottles or the like in ahorizontal position, but which is adapted to be displaced from itsnormal plane of operation in order to receive the bottles or the likebeing placed into Another object is the provision of a novel con' veyorhaving hingedbuckets so that they can be tilted from their normalhorizontal position during loading.

Otherobjects will become apparent as the description proceeds inconnection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Figure-1 is'a perspective view of a cartoning machine employing a bottlehandling device in accordance" with one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a top'plan view of the right hand end portion of the machineshown in Figure 1.

' Figure 3 is aside elevation, partly in section, of

a portion of the machine shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is atop plan view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 2but with some of the parts omitted.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view substantially along the line 5-5of Figure 2.

V Figure 511 (Sheet 6) is an enlarged sectional view substantially alongthe line 5a-5a of Figure 5.

Figured is an enlarged view in side elevation of the tilting bucketshown in Figure 5.

.Figure 7 is a sectional view substantially along the line T-J of Figure6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view substantially along the line 8-8 of Figure6.

Figure 9 is a sectional view substantially along the line 9-9 of Figure6.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are enlarged fragmentary views of the hinged endof a bucket which is substantially similar to that of Figures to 9,except that it is tilted by means of a' cam track engaging a roller onthe bucket.

Figure 13 is a view of a portion of a machine similar to that shown inFigure l, but illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 14 is a top plan view of a portion of the machine shown in Figure131.

Figure 15 is an enlarged sectional view substantially along the line|5|5 of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is an enlarged sectional view substantially along the line|6-|6 of Figure 14.

Referring to the perspective view of Figure 1', the machine illustratedtherein is a cartoning machine similar in constructionand operation tothat shown and described in the aforesaidapplication Serial Number731,395 of Alexander H. Ross. As viewed in Figure-1, the movement of theinterconnected conveyors is from right to left, so that the erectedcartons with the bottles loaded therein are discharged at the left endof the machine onto the off-take conveyor indicated generally at 3|. Theflattened cartons are supplied by the magazine indicated generally at32, and are erected or squared by a transport conveyor indicatedgenerally at 33.

While on the transport conveyor 33 a bottle 34 is inserted into eachcarton 35 by the simultaneous action of the slidable receptacles in theform of troughs or buckets 36 and the reciprocable plungers 31 therein,all as described in said application Serial Number 731,395, and thecarton may then be closed on both ends as described in said application,or only on one end, as shown in Figure 1. It is necessary that thebucket conveyor that includes the troughs or buckets 36 have the samelongitudinal speed as the transport conveyor 33, and since the bottlesare inserted into the erected carton while the transport conveyor 33 ismoving, the buckets 35 must always maintain the proper transverserelationship with respect to the transport conveyor 33 in order that thelongitudinal axes of the bottles '34 and cartons 35 willcoincide so thatthe bottles can be inserted. When the bottles are cylindrical, a bottleloader such as shown in the aforesaid application Serial No.

331,395 may be used, but the bottles must be loaded into it on theirsides.

'When the bottles are rectangular however, as are the bottles 34illustrated'in Figure 1 they must lie on their proper side in thebuckets 36 so that their widest dimension will coincide with the widestdimension of the carton to which it is presented for insertion. Thebuckets illustrated in this application have inclined bottoms so thatthe bottles will slide down and rest against the rear inner wall of thebucket irrespective of the width of the bottles but it will beunderstood that the buckets may have an adjustable side .wall-in themanner described in the aforesaid application Serial No. 731,395. Thebottle han- -d1ing and loading assembly indicated generally at 38 inFigure 1 is adapted to receive the rectangular bottles 34 from thebottle filling or capping machine and to transfer them to the buckets 33while the latter are in their uppermost raised positions of Figures. 1and5.

Referring particularly ,to Figures 1 to 5 t bottle handling and loadingassembly 38 includes a casting having left and right side walls 4|] and4|, a forward end wall 42 and a rear end wall 43. Adjacent the forwardend wall 42 is a top wall or platform 44 (Figures 3 and 5) between theside walls. An integral boss or shelf 45 (Figures 3 and 5) is spacedbelow the platform 44 to provide a support for the ball bearing assembly41. The entire casting is attached to the left wall 48 (Figure 5) of thecasting which supports the bucket conveyor assembly, by means of capscrews 49 or the like, there being locating pins (not shown) to properlylocate the wall 4| with respect to the wall 48.

" As best shown in Figures 2 to 5 the forward upper end of the rightside wall 4| is recessed at 50 to provide clearance for the buckets 36while being tilted to their upright position which is shown in Figure 5.

In the embodiment of the assembly 38 shown in Figures 1 to 5, thebottles 34 are received by the assembly with their widest facesabutting, as most clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 and with their labelsfacing the direction of their movement. The open top of the assembly 38casting is partially covered by two spaced and parallel longitudinallyextending conveyor track supports 5| and 52. (bestshown in Figures 1 and4) which terminate in forward edges 53 and 54 respectively, the supportsbeing attached to the top edges of the side walls 40 and 4| of thecasting by screws 55. A hinged link conveyor belt 5-1 (Figure 3) passesover a driving sprocket 58 and a rear sprocket 59 mounted on driving andrear shafts 6D and 6| respectively, the driving sprocket being keyed toshaft 30. The links of the conveyor 5! are of such width that theirouter edges rest upon the. inner spaced portions of the track supports5| and 52, these supports maintaining the upper run of the conveyorhorizontal and in the same plane that they leave and engage thesprockets 59 and 58.. At their rear ends the track supports 5| and 52are recessed at 63 and 64 to permit the conveyor 51 to clear them as itrounds the sprocket 59. The sprockets 58 and 59 turn counter-clockwiseas viewed in Figure 3, so that the bottles 34 are moved from right toleft.

The bottles 34 may be fed onto the conveyor belt 51 at the right orinfeed end of the assembly 38 in any suitable manner from the lastprevious machine such as the bottle filler or capper. Thebottles 34 areguided so as to remain on the conveyor belt 51 by two oppositelydisposed and adjustably spaced fence assemblies. Referring to Figures 1and 2 one assembly comprises vertically spaced guide members 65 and 66-connected by a pair of spacer members li'l.v Each spacer member 6'1 hasa rod 68 secured thereto and each rod 68 has a sliding engagementthrough a post 39 so that the guide members 35 and 66 may be adjustedtransversely of the conveyor belt. The adjustment is secured by setscrews in the posts 69, engaging the rods 68. The posts 69 are securedto the upper surface of the conveyor track 5| as by screws ll (Figure3). The other fence assembly comprises a pair of guide members 13 and 14similarly supported for transverse adjustment by a pair of posts 15mounted upon the upper surface of the other track support 52.

guide member 14 which is out of sight in Figure 2 is identical to theupper guide member 13 and has a similar curved section 16.

Cooperating with the curved sections 16 on the upper and lower guidemembers 13 and 14 to rotate the bottles through 90 degrees and transferthem to the elevated buckets 36 is another pair of adjustable andvertically spaced guide strips 19 and 80 (Figures 2 and 3) and a pair ofaligned vertically spaced star wheels 8| and 82 which are aifixed to avertical shaft 83 that rotates in a counter-clockwise direction asviewed in Figure 2. The forward ends of the guide strips 19 and 80 havethreaded pins 84 affixed to them, the pins having a slip fit throughvertically spaced holes in a bracket 85 attached by screws 96 (Figure 3)to the left wall 48 of the bucket conveyor casting. The forward ends ofthe guide strips 19 and 39 are adjustable towards or away from thebuckets 36 by means of a pair of nuts 81 on each threaded pin 84, therebeing a nut on each side of the bracket 85.

The guide strips 19 and 89 are flexible so that their curved contourscan be changed with relation to the curved sections 16 and the starwheels BI and 82 so that they can be adjusted to handle various sizes ofbottles. Although flexible, when both ends are secured in their adjustedpositions, the guide strips are sufiibiently rigid that they are notflexed by the bottles in their movement. At their rear ends, adjacentthe forward ends of the guide members 65 and 66, each guide strip 19 and89 is adjustably secured as follows. A vertical bracket 88 is secured tothe left side wall 49 as by screws 89. A pair of vertically spacedheaded screws 99 and 9| are threaded through the bracket 88. A verticalblock 93 may slide on the screws 99 and 9! and is pressed outwardly andaway from the bracket 38 and against the heads of the screws by a pairof springs 94,

one on each screw 90 and 9|. The block 93 is thus adjusted towards oraway from the bracket 88 by the simultaneous turning of screws 99 and9!. The ends of the guide strips 19 and 89 are fixedly secured to theforward flat edge of block 93 so that the guide strips are moved withthe block. This will move the rear ends of the guide strips closer orfurther away from the curved sections 16 on the guide members 13 and 14.

Inwardly towards the conveyor belt 51 from the bracket 88 is anothervertical bracket 95 through which are threaded a pair of verticallyspaced bolts 96 and 91. These bolts are in the same horizontal planes asthe guide strips 19 and 80 respectively, and on their ends that protrudethrough the bracket 95 the bolts carry blocks 98 and 99 respectively,each block being fixed axially with respect to its bolt, but permittingthe bolt to rotate, so that rotation of the bolts will move the blocksto the right or left as viewed in Figure 2. Each block 98 and 99 has atransverse vertical slot which receives the guide strips 19 and 80respectively with a fit which permits them to slide transversely throughthe blocks 98 and 99 as the strips are adjusted by the headed screws 90and 9|. The screws 90 and 9| and the bolts 99 and 91 thus provide forthe adjustment of the rear end portions of the guide strips 19- and 80,and with the previously described adjustment of the forward ends ofth-eguide strips where they are mounted on the bracket 95, the guidestrips can be adjusted to any desired contour with respect to the curvedsections 16 on the guide members 13 and 14, and with the star wheels 8|and 82 so that bottles of various sizes may be handled.

Beyond the point where the conveyor belt 51 passes under the tracksupports 5 l and 52 at their forward edges 53 and 54, the bottlespassonto: the

' top surface of a fixed or dead plate I99 (Figure 4) which is fastenedto the top of the casting walls 40 and 4| as by screws l0! and has thesame thickness as the links of the hinged link conveyor belt 51 so as topresent no obstruction to the bottles as they are transferred theretofrom-the conveyor belt by the action of the rotating star'wheels 8| and82. It is the function of the star wheels BI and 82 to transfer thebottles from. the conveyor belt 54 onto the dead plate I00 and move itover that plate as guided by the curved sections 16 and by the guidestrips 19 and 89. i

As best shown-in Figures 2 and 5 the guide strips 19 and direct thebottles towards the right edge I02 of the dead plate I00 so. that theyslide on this edge and into an uplifted bucket 36, which is so timed inits movement as to be in transverse alignment with the bottle as itslides from the dead plate. As shown in Figure 6, the right face of theplunger 31 is inclined to" the left and upwardly, so that when thebucket is. uprighted as in Figure 5 a horizontal surface. 39 is providedin substantially the same hori-' zontal plane as the top of the deadplate I99.

The bottle will slide over the surface 39 before 7 it topples through :asmall angle and rests against the bottom of the bucket. It will beunderstood that the forward ends of the guide strips 19 and 80 can beadjusted transversely towards or away from the buckets 36 to assure thetransfer of the bottles to the buckets when the buckets are at theirhighest elevation; It will also be understood that the forward end ofthe upper guide strip 80' may be adjusted toa position closer to thebuckets than the lower guide strip 19 so as to assist the action ofgravity in toppling the bottles into the buckets.

Referring to Figure 5 the bucket conveyor support casting comprises theleft wall'48, right wall I05 and an upper horizontal connecting wall .I96. Apair of endless chains I91 have their upper runs above the wallI06, and their lower run below the wall, being supported and guided byupper tracks I08 and lower tracks I99, all affixed to the wall I06 inthe manner described in the aforesaid application Serial No. 731,395. Asalso described in that application, the chains are driven by a driveshaft and sprockets at the forward endof the bucket conveyor, and attheir rear ends the chains pass over sprockets on a tailshaft journalledin the side walls of the casting. The tailshaft I ll) of the bucketconveyor is shown in plan in Figure 2 herein, and is shown to extendthrough the right side wall 4| of assembly 38 and to be journalled in aball bearing assembly I l in the left side wall 40, the bearing assemblybeing retained therein by a plate H2. This extension of thetailshaft H0serves as a power supply for the assembly 38, as will be described. Theother end of the tailshaft is journalled in but protrudes through thecasting right wall I05 and has aflixed thereto a V belt drive pulley l l3 for a purpose to be described.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3 the tailshaft III has keyed thereto asprocket l|4 that lies in the same vertical plane as a sprocket |5 keyedto the driving shaft 60 for the conveyor belt 51. A chain l6 passes overthese sprockets whereby the conveyor belt 51 is driven by the tailshaftH9. As shown in Figure 3 the lower run of the conveyor belt 51 sagsbelow the plane of the tailshaft I I0 and sprocket II4 so as to clearthem, the-upper run being supported in horizontal position by the tracksupports 5| and 52. g

Another sprocket II1 (Figure 2) keyed to the tailshaft H is in the samevertical plane as a sprocket I I8 (Figures 2, 3 and 5) keyed to ahorizontal shaft II9 journalled in bearings I20 and I2I in the sidewalls 40 and M of the assembly 38. A bevel gear I22 fixed to the shaft II9 drives a mating bevel gear I23 afiixed to the bottom of the verticalshaft 83 that carries the star wheels 8| and 82. The shaft 83 isjournalled in an upper hearing I 24 in the platform 44 and in thebearing 41 in the shelf 45. As shown in Figure 5 the outer race of thebearing 41 rests upon a shoulder I25 in the shelf 45 and the lowerportion of shaft 83 is reduced in diameter to provide a shoulder I26that rests upon the inner race of the bearing.

The tailshaft IIO thus provides the driving means for both the conveyorbelt 51 and the rotating star wheels 8! and 82. These wheels 8i and 82each have peripheral pockets that provide radial faces I21 (Figure 2)which protrude into the arcuate fenced path for the bottles between theguide strips 19 and 80 and the curved sections 16, the faces I21 on thetwo star wheels being in vertical alignment. The speed of rotation ofthe star wheels and the number of radial faces thereon are So relatedwith the rate of movement of the conveyor carrying the buckets 36 thatthe star wheels with the aid of the guide strips 19 and 80, will bring abottle into alignment with and discharge it into each bucket while thebucket is elevated and moving at a steady rate. It will be apparent fromFigure 2 that the conveyor belt 51 moves the bottles to the left untilthey engage the guide strips 19 and 80, after which the faces I21 of thestar wheels engage the bottles and move them transversely of thedirection of their previous movement. The star wheels may be secured tohubs I28 (Figure 5) as by screws I29, the hubs being fixedly secured tosleeves I30 which may be adjustably secured to the shaft 83 as by setscrews I3 I.

The buckets 36 are of generally similar construction and attached to theendless chains in the same manner as those described in the aforesaidapplication Serial No. 131,395 except that they are modified so thatthey can be tilted upwardly as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 to receivethe bottles discharged from the dead plate I00. Referring particularlyto Figures 5 to 9 each bucket 36 is slidably mounted on a dovetailslideI34 which has aflixed to each end thereof a depending ear I35. Each carhas affixed thereto a pair of chain link pins I36 (Figure 8) so spacedas to connect the adjoining links of the corre sponding endless chainI01. On their upper runs the chains I01 are confined between the tracksI08 and hold down members I31, so that the dovetail sides I34 aremaintained in horizontal position. A plate I38, of considerably shorterlength than the dovetail slide I34, has aflixed to its under surface, asby screws I36 (Figures 9 and 5), a pair of gibs I40 and I4I which fitinto the grooves on the opposite sides of the dovetail slide I34,whereby the plate I38 is attached to the slide but can slide along itand transversely with respect to chains I01.

At the left end of the plate I38 as viewed in Figure 6, a round rod I42having a flattened bottom is fastened to the top of the plate by rivetsI43 (Figure '1). The ends of the rod are rounded to a reduced diameterto provide pivot pins I44 and I45. The lower left hand corner of the 8.bucket 36, as viewed in Figure 6; has a rectangular transverse sectionremoved; the rod I42 lying within the space so provided. Hinge bracketsI46 and I41 are secured to the underside of the bucket, one on each sidethereof, by screws I48 (Figure 6). Each bracket I46 and I41 has anupwardly extending portion which is bored to fit over the respectivepivot pin I44 or I45, thus hingedly connecting the bucket 36 to theplate I38 so that it can be tilted to the position shown in Figure 5while the bottle is transfer-red to it. By the construction so fardescribed, each bucket may be shifted transversely with respect to theendless chains 101 because of the engagement of the gibs I40 and MI withthe dovetail slide I34. A yoke I5I, which bridges the dovetail I34, isattached at its ends to the gibs I40 and MI on each bucket, by screwsI52 and I53 (Figure 7), and each yoke has a ball bearing assembly I64aimed to its underside by a stud 55 passing through and securing thebearing inner race to the yoke, allowing the outer race to rotatefreely. The outer bearing race thus provides a follower which engagesthe cam tracks I66 and I61 (Figures 2 and 5) secured to the top surfaceof the connecting wall I06 to shift the bucket transversely of thechains I01 in accordance with the operation being performed at anyparticular time. As best shown in Figure 2, the cam tracks I66 and I51are so shaped as to shift the buckets transversely from their normalpath and toward the conveyor belt 51 and the star wheels on the assembly38, after which they are shifted back to normal position. The same camtracks may also be so shaped as to shift the buckets to insert pamphletstherein and they also assist in loading the cartons as described in theaforesaid application Serial No. 131,395.

Means are provided to latch the buckets 36 to the dovetail slides I34 sothat they cannot be tilted with respect to the slides except during thetime that it is desired to raise them as in Figure 5. Otherwise thebuckets would swing downwardly about their pivots I44 and I46 duringtheir return run under the wall I06. This latch takes the form of ashort gib I58 (Figures 6 and 8) located by pin I66 and secured by ascrew I60 to the bottom of the bucket 36 instead of to the plate I38,and engaged with the angular guideway on one side of the dovetail slideI34 so that the bucket cannot be pivoted. However when the bucket hasbeen shifted to the left as view in Figure 5 the short gib I58 liesabreast of a cut-away portion or notch I59 (Figures 5, 6 and 9) in thedovetail slide, so that the short gib is disengaged from the slide andthe bucket can be raised. After it has been raised, loaded, and loweredagain the bucket is shifted to the right again as viewed in Figure 5 bythe cam track I51 whereupon the short gib I58 latches the bucket inhorizontal position again. Each bucket 36 is provided with a plunger 31mounted to slide longitudinally in the guideways I62 bucket as describedin said application Serial No. 731,395, and operable to be shiftedtherein by means of cam tracks I63 (Figure 1) mounted above the bucketsand which engage the rollers I64 secured to the tops of the plungers bystuds I65 (Figure '7). The cam tracks I63 serve to shift the plungers soas to eject the bottles 34 from the buckets 36 and insert them into thecartons on the transport conveyor, after which a succeeding cam track I66 (Figure 1) moves the plungers back to a position towards the hingedend of the bucket, substana on the tailshaft Il0. Referring to Figures5, 2 and 1, a bucket lift- 7 ing assembly, indicated generally by therefer- -tially in the pQsition that the plunger is shown in the lowerrun of. the bucket. conveyor in Figure 5. Whenthe bucket rises to theposition 31 will ordinarily slide downwardly due to its own weight tothe position shown so that the bottle will clear it as it is shoved ofiof thedead This downward position of the I plunger is determined by astop pin I68 (Figplate I90.

ures 6 and '7) which is engaged by a transverse abutment I69 on theunderside of the plunger formed by the terminus of a recess I10 (Figure-6) that clears the stop pin I68. In order to assure that the plungerhas been shifted to the position shown in Figure 5.-when the bucket islifted, an upper cam track I1I (Figures 1 and 2) mounted on a bracketI13 engages the roller ence number I15, comprises a fiat triangularplate I16 that is supported in the inclined position shown in Figure 5by being afiixed to the top inclined surface of a supporting plate I11suitably secured to the outer side of the wall I05 of the bucketconveyor supporting casting.

,Thecorners of the triangular plate I18 are provided with V belt pulleysI18, I19 and I80 that are supported by their axle pins below the planeof the triangular plate I16. and guide a moving V belt I8I aroundtheperiphery of the plate I15,

the belt lying-substantially outside of the upwardly inclined edges I82and I83 of the plate. The belt I.8I is thereby so located that after thebuckets 36 have rounded the tailshaft H and have been unlatched forhinged movement by alignment of the short ribs I58 with the notches YI59, the leading edges of the free ends of the buckets will engage andride upon the V belt I8l so that the buckets will be successively tiltedupwardlyjduring their. forward movement, be-

cause of the forward movement of theendless chains I01 and theclockwise, movement of the V belt as viewed inFigure 2. As the bucketreaches the point where the V belt reaches its apex in passing over theupper pulley I 18 it has reached its maximum lift, which position, itholds for a moment as its fiat underside rounds the .arc of the belt atits apex. A bottle is loaded into.each bucket at this point, and afterthe bucket passes the apex of the belt are. it again descends until itas again resting upon the plate 138 whereupon a curve in the cam trackI51 shifts the bucket to latch it to the dovetail slide I34. again bymeans of the short rib I58.v The forward pulley I19 is keyed to a shaftthat also has keyed thereto a drive pulley I84. .A V belt I85 is trainedover the drive pulley I84 and shown in the upper run of- Figure theplunger 7 o onnection with the also over the V belt pulley II3afilxed tothe tailsame speed as the buckets which ride upon it during theirraising and low- .ering movements. The two pulleys I19 and I 84 havetheir shaft mounted in a bracket I88 which issecuredfto thetriangular-plate I16 by a bolt f I88 passing through the bracket and aslot 'I81 ir the plate (there being a nut beneath the shaft 0, thediameters of these pulleys being .such that the V belt I8I moves'in itspath at substantially the the belt I8I.

to the'plate I38 of Figures 6 to r'i'es the pivot I96 upon which the.integral bridge are pivoted. A curved cam track tionof Figure 12,either while. they are still on the star. wheel 203 70 plate J16 as willbe understood )v sothat the bracket I88 and theshaft can be shiftedtoadjust the tension of the two V belts. In order to prevent, sagging; ofthe. belt I8! under theweight of the buckets, supporting and guidingmembers ISI '(see, Figure 5a on Sheet 6) arev secured to the undersideof triangular plate I 16. along its edges ;I82 and I83 between thepulley I18and pulleys I19 and. I; 7 I v ,I9I on the rear edge I82 ofplate. S16 and each v longitudinally extending There are two members hassecured thereto a guide plate I90 that provides an upper guide for YOtherwise theiforce required to raise the buckets might twist the beltoff of its guide members I90. The single longer guide member ,IBI on theforward edge of the plate I16 does not require the upper guides I9Ibecause the buckets do not exert as great a twisting force on the beltI8I while they are being lowered, Y Y

' Ari alternate construction for the raising and lowering of the hingedbuckets is illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12 which show successiveposi- .tions of the bucket. bracket I95, hichcorrespond to the bracketsAs shown in Figure 10, the

I46 and I41 of Figures 6 to 9, etc., extend beyond thebucket pivot I96and are integrally joined-by a? bridge member I94 that carries a studI61 which supports a ball bearing journalled cam follower roller I98.The plate I93 corresponds 9, etc., and carbracket, i and I99 issupported on the recessed wall 5801 t e bottle loading assembly castingby meansof brackets 200. The cam track I99 is of such shape that v as kthe chains I01 cam track willgradually thelevel position of Figure 10 tothe fully raised move the. buckets" the position of FigurelZ, where thebucket is loaded, after which the curveof the cam track is reversed tolower the bucket again. Figure 11 represents an intermediate positionbetween the horizontal position of Figure 10 and the fully raisedposiwhile the bucket is being raised orlowered, as will be understood.All of the previously describedmeans for ,unlatching the hinged bucketand for moving the plunger to the end of its stroke are used asdescribed in M r t previous embodiment.

.Figures13 .to lfiillustrate another embodiment for handling bottles inthe manner previously described, but wherethe bottlesare. fed to. the

conveyorbelt 51 in the relativ positions shown in Figure l3, that is,with the short side walls of thebottles inabutting relationship, andwiththe labels facing towards the bucket conveyor, In

.. or rtt s th v sl d scr beda pa at with-a minimum of modification,means are .provided; to rotate thebottles that after such rotation theymay be-handledand ,loadedinto the buckets in thesame manner aspreviously described.

The;meansfor rotating the bottles cornprises .apowerdriven star'wheel203 mounted for rota- .tion. about avertical axis to one side of andapproximately midway of the length of the conveyor belt 51.

As best shown in Figure 15, the is affixed as by screws 204 to a collar205 keyed to a hub 206 having a sprocket 201keyed' lthereto and fastenedto a rotary verticalshaft 268 208 issuitably located andfastened to thetop member 2II of raise the bucket from.

through; 9Q-v degrees vewrb h 5 55 as by a set screw 209. The shaft fxed in the inner race 2!!! of a, ball bearing assembly the outer race ofwhich is abraoket assembly by a retainer 2 l2". The other members 2 E3,214 and H5 of the assembly maintain the member 2 in horizontal position,the member 213 being secured-to the wall it of the casting as by screws2i5.

A chain 211 passing over the sprocket 2 01 drives the star wheel 203from an intermediate sprocket assembly indicated generally at 2" andhaving its axis substantially offset from the path of the conveyor belt51 so that the drive for the star wheel 203 does not interfere with thfree movement of the bottles.

recurrin to Figures 14 and 16, a; bracket- :19 is secured to the wall 40by screw 223. A hollow cylindrical member 221 is attached to the bracketby screws 222,- the xterior wall of the cylindrical member 22! having aflattened portion at 223 which lies against the flat surface of thebracket 21!. A air of ball bearing assemblies 224 and 225 are heldwithin the bore of the cylindrical member 22l by upper and lowerretainers 226 and 221, and journal a shaft 228 for rotation on avertical axis. A pair of sprockets 223 and 230 are keyed to the shaft223 as by tapered pins 231 and 232 so that they rotat together. Thechain 211 from th sprocket 201 on the shaft 208- of the star Wheel 203passes around the upper sprocket 229 and another chain 233 passes around12 forward 'endsthe bars 246 terminate in curved sections2'49-which'correspond to the curved sections 16' of Figure-2, to retainthe bottles in the pockets of the star wheels 81-82 until they fall ofith dead plate I00 into the buckets as previously explained. At theirforward ends, each of the pair of guide bars 245 have attached thereto ashort curvedsection 250 which has a longitudinal slot 25! (Figure 13)through which passes a bolt 252 that fastens the curved section to itsrespective guide bar 245.- A bracket 253 corresponding to the bracket 85of Figures 2 and 3 provides a support at the forward ends of a pair ofsimilar but vertically spaced rectangular support rods 254 each of whichis fastened to the bracket 253 by a bolt passing through a longitudinalslot 255 (Figure 14) in the support rods so that the rods can belongitudinally adjusted. At its rear end, each rod 254 has fixedlyattached thereto a curved section 256 which is substantially concentricwith the curved sections 249. The rear end of each curved section 256overlaps its corresponding curved section 250.

. At its rear end each curved section 256 has atthe lower sprocket 230and around a sprocket 238 (Figure 14) keyed to the shaft '83 whichcarthis the two vertically spaced star wheels 8,! and 82. As will-beunderstood. the diameter of the star wheel 203 with respect to the starwheels II and 82, and the diameters or the sprockets 201-, 229,- 230 and234 are such that the bottles will b moved at such a rate as not to bejammed between the horizontally spaced star wheels 8142 and 203. InFigures 13 and 14 the upper star wheel 81 has been removed to moreclearly Y show the elements between it and the lower star wheel. Asshown in Figure 13, a guard cover 235 protects the operator of themachine from entanglement with the chains 211 and 233' or theirsprockets. V

Referring to Figures 13 and 14 when the bottles are first fed onto theconveyor belt 51, with the narrow sides ofthe bottles abutting, they areguided by spaced pairs 238', 239, and 240, 24! of guide bar which areadjustable towards each other in the manner described in connection withFigures 1 and 2. At their forward ends the guide bars 240 and 24! haveattached thereto or integral therewith; curved sections 242 extendingsubstantially around the periphery of the star wheel 203 to form anouter guide for the bottles being rotated by the star wheel 203. Aresilient guide strip 243 (Figure-'14) fixed onlyat its rear end to themidpoint of a bracket 244 which connects the guide bars 240 and 241resiliently retains the bottles in the pockets of the star wheel 2.03. Astraight resilient member 231 is fastened only at its rear end to abracket 23B- connecting the guide members 240 and 241, and projects;into the path of the moving bottles to keep them againstthe other pairof guide members 233 and 23a. The resiuentmember 231 lies substantiallyin the same horizontal lane as the curved resilient guide member 243,that is, between the upper and lower guide members 240, and 24 l.

After the bottles have been rotated by the star wheel 203 they passbetween the more widely spaced pairs of guide bars 245 and 246 mountedfor transverse adjustment in the blocks 241 and 248. Only the upper barof each vertically spaced pair or bars 245 and 246 is shown in the planview of 14 as will be understood. At their tached thereto a forwardlyextending resilient extension guide strip 251. As will be apparent fromFigure 14, the curved sections 258 and their resilient extensions 251serve in cooperation with the rotating star wheels 8 l-B2 to slide thebottles over the edge N2 of the dead plate (00 and into the buckets 36.

I have thus provided a novel bottle handling and loading assembly whichhandles upright bottles and transfers them without shock to a conveyorwhich carries them in horizontal position, the latter conveyor beingconstructed so that its bucket elements are tilted to a near verticalposition in order to receive the bottles, and are then guided to theirnormal horizontal position. The loading assembly operates continuouslyand does not employ any intermittently moving parts. It is fullyadjustable withinits designed limits to handle bottles of various sizeswhich are to be loaded into corresponding sizes of cartons. While it hasbeen described in connection with bottles of rectangular cross-section,which must be presented for insertion into the cartons only when alignedtherewith; it is to be understood that cylindrical bottles are as easilyhandled. The bottle turning star wheel 203 of Figures 13-15 would not berequired in the event that cylindrical bottles are being loaded, inwhich event that star wheel with its driving mechanism can be removedand the system of guides shown in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3employed for guiding the bottles towards and around the star wheelsill-B2. It is also to be understood that the movement of the beltconveyor 51 need not be parallel to that of the bucket conveyor, but maybe at any angle with respect thereto, since the star wheels ill-82 canrotate the bottles through angles other than degrees before moving themoffof the dead plate 100, and the assembly may be driven from thetailshaft I [0 by means of a universal joint connection or a flexibleshaft as will be understood.

The invention; may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments is therefore to be considered in all Whatv is claimed anddesired to be secured-by United States Letters Patent is: V

.1. In a handling and conveying-system, a first conveyor having articlereceptacles movingiin a horizontal rectilinear path; means to rotatesaidreceptacles from an initial horizontal position towards a verticalposition and then .back to. their initial .position while movingin saidrectilinear path; a second conveyor moving inv achorizontal rectilinearpath substantially coplanar withthe path of said first'conveyor; andmeans operable to transfer articles from said second conveyor to saidreceptacles at the time that the receptacles on said first conveyor arerotated towards their vertical position.

2. In a conveyor system, an endless conveyor having a Working upper armand an idle lower return run, said conveyor including a series ofnormally horizontal trough shaped receptacles hinged thereto; means fortilting said receptacles towards a vertical position during the. upperrun of the conveyor; and means for inserting articles into saidreceptacles while tilted upwardly; said receptacles having means forretaining articles therein while tilted toward a vertical position. a

3. The apparatus described in claim:2 wherein said receptacles arehinged at one end .to said conveyor about axes parallel to the movementof said conveyor.

4. In the apparatus described in claim 3, means for latchingsaid-receptacles against tilting movement during the idle lower returnof the conveyor. v 1

5. In a handling and conveying system,,a conveyor moving in a horizontalrectilinear, path; troughshaped receptacles on said conveyor arrangedtransversel to its direction of movement, said receptacles beingpivotally attached to said conveyor about aligned axes parallel to itsdirece tion of movement; means operable to rotate said receptacles fromtheir normal horizontal position to an upright position and backto theirnormal position while moving in said rectilinear path; and meansoperable to load articles into said receptacles while they are in theirupright position.

6. In the apparatus described in claim 5; means in said receptaclesoperable to eject articles from said receptacles while they are in theirhorizontal position. p g

'7. In the apparatus described in claim} 6, said ejecting meanscomprising plungers slidable in said receptacles; and means operableto-move said plungers to one end of said receptacles-before saidreceptacles are loaded in their'upright position. I

8. In the apparatus described in claim Asaid plunger-s being in thelower end of said receptacles when the receptacles are uprighted, andproviding a support for the articles being loaded into the receptacles.v

9. In an article handling and conveying system, a conveyor moving in ahorizontal rectilinear path; trough shaped receptacles on said conveyorarranged transversely to its direction of movement, saidreceptaclesbeing pivotally atposition from'sa-idsupport to the uprighted,re-

ceptacles.

10. In the apparatus described in claim 9 said last mentioned meansincluding a wheel having. peripheral pockets-and rotating in asubstantially last mentioned means including a wheel having tached tosaid conveyor about aligned axes parallel to its direction of movement;means operable to rotate said receptacles from their normal horizontalposition to an upright position and back to their normal position; ahorizontal support adjacent the path of the lower ends of saidreceptacles when they are in upright position; and means operable totransfer articles in upright peripheral notches and rotating in asubstantially horizontal plane above said support; guide means operableto direct articles into said pockets and then from said pockets towardsaid receptacles; and a conveyor operable to deliver articles to saidguide means and wheel.

12. In an article handling and conveying system, a conveyor movable in ahorizontal rectilinear path; trough shaped receptacles on said conveyorarranged transversely to its direction of movement, said receptaclesbeing 'pivotally connected to said conveyor about axes parallel to itsdirection of movement, and also slidably l mounted on said conveyor forshifting movementtransverse of the directionof conveyor movement; meansoperable to rotate said receptacles from their normal horizontalposition to an up right position and back to their normal position asupport adjacent the path of the lower ends:

.of said receptacles when they are in upright position; means operableto transfer articles in upright position from said support to the uprighted receptacles; and means operable to slide said receptacles fromtheir normal positions laterally towards said support and then back totheir normal lateral positions, whereby said receptacles are. closer tosaid support when uprighted. p

'13.;The apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein said last named means isefiectiv to shift said receptacles laterally before they begin toupright, and. then to shift them back to normal lateral horizontalposition. 1

14. The apparatusdefined in claim. 13 wherein latch means are providedto preventthe pivotal position after they have returned to their normalmovement of saidreceptacles except during the interval that they are intheir lateral shifted position towards said support.

15. In a conveyor, a pairof spaced parallel endless elements having a,run in a horizontal planera transverse member afilxed at its endportions to said elements, a receptacle arranged transverse to saidelements, slidable upon said member transversely of said elements andpivoted at one end to. said member about an axis parallel to thedirection of movement of said elements;

means operable to shift the receptacle trans .verselyto onev end of itsstroke; means to upright the receptacles while so shifted, and meansoperable to load an article into said receptacle while so uprighted.

16. In a conveyor, a pair of spaced parallel endless elements having arun in a common horizontal plane; a transverse member afiixed at its endportions to said elements, a receptacle arranged transverse to saidelements and hinged at one end to said member for rotation about an axisparallel to the direction of movement of said elements; and a receptacletilting device comprising a third endless element lying in a planeintersecting that of the movement of said receptacle, said third'endlesselement being movable to lift the unhinged end of said receptacle 1' 5to an upright position and then lower it again.

17. In an article handling and conveyingsystem, a conveyor moving in ahorizontal rectilinear path; trough shaped receptacles on said conveyorarranged transversely to its direction of movement, said receptaclesbeing pivotan'y attached to said conveyor about aligned axes parallel toits direction of movement and normally supported by said conveyor in ahorizontal position; means operableto rotate said 'receptacles fromtheir normal horizontal positionto an upright posit-ion and back totheir normal position, comprising a fixed cam track and means mountedadjacent the hinged ends-of said receptacles for engaging said track torotate said buckets, and an article transfer deviceoperable to depositarticles in said receptacles while in such upright position.

18. In a handling and conveying' sysfe'ma first conveyor adapted totransport articles in anupright position; a second conveyor parallel tosaid first conveyor andadapted to transport articles in a horizontalposition; a device for transferring articles from said first to saidsecondconveyor while in upright position; and means on said secondconveyor enabling it to receive article'sinan upright position:

19. In an article handling and conveying systern, a conveyor moving in ahorizontal rectilinear path; apl'nrality of trough shaped rec'ep tacle'son said conveyorarranged transversely to its direction of movement; saidreceptacles being 'eachpivotally mounted atone end" on saidconveyorabout'alig-ned axes parallel to-the direction ofconveyor movement andnormallysupported by said conveyor'i'na-horizontalpo'sition meansoperable to rotate each ofisaidreceptacles from its normal horizontalposition to an upright position and back to its normal position as it ismoved by-said conveyor; and an article transfer device opera-blotsdeposit-articles said receptaol'es,v while in sucii'upright position.

20. In aconveyor; a pair" of spacedparallel endless elements having a"ina horizontal plane; a transverse member afiiiied at its ends to saidelements,- a receptacle arrangedtransverse to said elements andpivotably'mounted-at one end tosaidmember about an axisparaliel tothedirection of movement of said elements and normally supported" by saidmember in a horizontal position; and means operative during a portion ofthe horizontal run of s'a-id elements to rotate saidreceptacle from itsnormal liori zontal position to anupright position and back to itsnormal position:

21. The combination as defined in claim 20 wherein said receptacle ismounted for'limit'ed reciprocation transversely to the: direction ofmovement of said endless e1ements and including means operable toshift-said receptacle transversely. at. one end: oiits" strok e priorto" its ro tation. to: uprigl'itw position and-to" retum it-t'o itsnormal transverse position after its return to horizontal position.

- 22. In combination, a supply conveyor, a receiving conveyor, anintermediate conveyor disposed between the others, a series of normallytransversely disposed receptacles mounted on said intermediate conveyorfor movement transversely of said intermediate conveyor between a firstposition: adjacent said supply conveyor and a secend position adjacentsaid receiving conveyor, means for tilting said receptacles for transferof articles thereto-when at said first position, means for transferringarticles from said supply convey'or to said receptacles while so tilted,means for then moving said receptacles to said second positionfortransfer of articles therefrom, and means for transferring articles fromsaid receptaoles: to said receiving conveyor while in said secondposition.

23. In: combination,- two conveyors havingportions that move through atransfer station in adjacent-relation and atsubstantially the samelinear speed,. a series of movable receptacles nor mally transverselydisposed on one of said con:- veyors,. means forsupporting a series ofupright articles on the other of said conveyors, means at said stationfor tilting said receptacles towardupright position for receivingarticles from said other conveyor, means at said station fortransferring: articlesfrom said other conveyor to said tiltedreceptacles and means for subsequently moving said receptacles back tonormal position on said one conveyor.

24. -In1' the combination defined: in claim 23-, a

third conveyor for carrying-a series of open sided cartons along saidone conveyor after the receptacle's have beentiltedback to normalposition, andmeansfor transferring said articles from saidreceptacle's'into said cartons.

JOH-N'OIS CURRIVAN;

' References Cited in the' flle of this patent- ,UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 931,434 Krummel Aug'. 17, 1909 1,263,485 Thornburg a---Apr. 23, 1918 1,325,521 Mingle Dec. 23, 1919 l i22-,229 Sharp July 11;,192-2 1,524,641 Mayeis Jan, 27,1925 1,6963% Crawford- Dec. 25,- 19281,765,419 Goss -s June 24, 1930 L,981,642 Nov. 20, 1 934 2,1-19 596Mintert June 1 7, 1938 2,355,597 Pond Aug. 8, 1944 2,355,722 Goebel Aug.15, 1944 2,436,820 7 Nordquist- Mar. 2-, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS NinnpeiCountry Date 657,831 France May28, 1929 330.26 Italy Oct. 9, I935

